LABMY CH115

“Let me see you hatch it.”

Under Jian Yuanbai’s teasing gaze, which carried an inexplicable hint of melancholy, Mu Jingzhu was so nervous that he didn’t know where to place his hands and feet. He stiffly said, “Y-You can go to bed. I’ll just hatch the egg on the soft couch.”

Saying this, Mu Jingzhu hurriedly and awkwardly moved as if his hands and feet were not coordinated. He rushed to the candle and blew out the flickering flame in one breath, quickly saying, “Rest early, I’m going to hatch the egg.”

Jian Yuanbai’s tone was helpless yet amused, “Little Spoon, have you forgotten? I’m a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

“Even if you blow out the candle, I can still see perfectly in the dark.”

In the darkness, the beautiful young man stiffly turned around, his moist eyes shimmering as if they held fragments of moonlight. “I-I see.”

In his panic, Mu Jingzhu had completely forgotten about this.

Jian Yuanbai simply sat cross-legged on the bed, resting his chin on one hand, watching him with interest. “Go ahead, let me see how you hatch your master’s egg.”

Mu Jingzhu felt like crying. He sniffled, placed the egg on the soft couch, and used a blanket to form a circular nest. He then carefully placed the egg in the center of the soft nest.

He stared at the beast egg in the middle of the nest, his heart tangled to the extreme. Should he sit on it?

Really… sit on it?

The beautiful Little Spoon looked as if he was about to die from embarrassment.

A hand suddenly reached out from behind and wrapped around his waist, pulling him into an embrace. “You weren’t actually planning to sit on it, were you?”

Mu Jingzhu instinctively refuted, “Of course not!”

Jian Yuanbai flicked a strand of spiritual energy toward the egg and lifted Mu Jingzhu up by the waist. “Alright, I’ve already infused it with spiritual energy. If you keep stalling, are we even going to sleep tonight?”

His movements were so swift that Mu Jingzhu didn’t have time to react. He was already taken to the bed and surrounded by the man’s warmth. Mu Jingzhu was so tense that his entire body stiffened.

Maybe… maybe he should just be honest.

The ridiculous excuse about hatching the egg had already made him feel the true meaning of “digging your own grave.”

But just as he was about to speak, he realized that the man had simply closed his eyes and was breathing evenly.

So… sleeping… was really just sleeping?

Mu Jingzhu let out a long sigh of relief, unsure whether he felt more disappointed or more relieved.

Sensing his movement, Jian Yuanbai tightened his embrace around Mu Jingzhu’s waist, lowered his head, and gently kissed his smooth forehead. He whispered, “Sleep now.”

Mu Jingzhu didn’t say anything. His fluffy little head quietly nestled against Jian Yuanbai’s chest, and the corners of his lips curved up slightly.

It seemed that both of them had forgotten that for cultivators, the best way to spend the night was to meditate and cultivate. Yet at this moment, they were like an ordinary couple, sharing a peaceful sleep in the silent night.

The next day, the two of them sat face-to-face at the table, discussing where they should go next.

Mu Jingzhu said, “My master told me to go out and gain experience, but I don’t know where to go.”

He had never ventured out for training before, nor did he have a clear goal. When he previously descended the mountain to reach Wuwang Peak, he at least had a destination. But this time, his master had suddenly sent him down the mountain to train without giving him any guidance. It felt as if his master had simply patted his head and decided that he was ready for training on a whim.

Jian Yuanbai, who indeed had made that decision on a whim, coughed lightly with a guilty conscience. “Cultivation is all about seeking opportunities and exploring ancient ruins. Since you don’t know where to go, let’s check if any ancient secret realms are about to open.”

Mu Jingzhu thought for a moment and said, “But I haven’t heard of any secret realms opening recently. The Qingyun Fudi just closed not long ago, and there are very few places suitable for my cultivation level.”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “Since you’ve already registered as a mercenary, why don’t we visit the Mercenary Guild and try taking on some missions?”

It was Mu Jingzhu’s first time as a mercenary, and he accepted the suggestion without hesitation, feeling a bit curious. The two of them soon arrived at the bustling Mercenary Guild hall.

As soon as they entered, they heard a loud voice shouting:

“The Sea of Falling Waters has shown abnormal activity! We urgently need a mercenary team to investigate!”

The words “Sea of Falling Waters” immediately caught Jian Yuanbai’s attention.

He remembered that both the Grand Advisor and the Phoenix had mentioned “the other side of the sea.”

Jian Yuanbai walked over to the man shouting and asked, “Isn’t the Sea of Falling Waters a death trap for cultivators? Any cultivator who steps into the sea will instantly sink to the bottom. Unless a mortal pulls them out, they’re doomed.”

“Why is there suddenly a need to recruit mercenaries to investigate?”

The man, who had been shouting all morning without finding a single volunteer, sighed in frustration when someone finally asked, “Exactly! No one knows why, but this is a mission personally issued by the Asriga Imperial Court.”

“It’s said that due to the strange phenomenon, cultivators can now dive into the waters within a hundred-mile radius of the Sea of Falling Waters.”

“The mission was originally posted on the task board for mercenaries to take voluntarily, but because this mission is special, I’ve been shouting here to attract attention,” the man sighed again and added, “But everyone knows the infamous reputation of the Sea of Falling Waters. I’ve been yelling all morning, and not a single team is willing to accept the mission.”

Jian Yuanbai pondered for a moment and asked, “What are the requirements for forming a mercenary group? Can two people form a group?”

The mission distributor said, “Are you joking with me? How could two people form a mercenary group? The leader must be at the Nascent Soul stage, with at least four Golden Core cultivators, or three Golden Cores and one Foundation Establishment. In total, at least five people are needed to form a mercenary group.”

Jian Yuanbai calculated the strength of two Nascent Souls and three Golden Cores and asked, “Can one Soul Transformation cultivator count as a full mercenary group?”

“You… you’re a Soul Transformation cultivator?” The man’s expression was exaggeratedly stunned, looking somewhat comical. “A Soul Transformation cultivator doing mercenary work?”

It wasn’t surprising he reacted this way. In the Asriga Empire, a Nascent Soul cultivator was already a powerful figure. A Soul Transformation cultivator could easily become the head of a major sect. Such experts rarely appeared in public.

Jian Yuanbai nodded without denying it. “Do you need verification?”

Without a crystal ball capable of detecting the Soul Transformation realm, Jian Yuanbai placed his hand on the crystal ball in the room. With a fragile crack, the crystal ball shattered into pieces under the overwhelming pressure of his spiritual energy.

Though the crystal ball was broken, Jian Yuanbai successfully accepted the mission.

However, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious. If something strange had happened in the Sea of Falling Waters, why hadn’t the Grand Advisor of the Asriga Imperial Court informed him during the apprenticeship ceremony? Not only had there been no communication, but instead, the mission was quietly released through the Mercenary Guild.

What exactly was the Asriga Imperial Court planning?

With Jian Yuanbai’s speed, he could travel thousands of miles in a day and instantly reach any destination. However, with Mu Jingzhuo by his side, he chose to travel step by step.

As they headed toward the Sea of Falling Waters, the news that cultivators could now enter within a hundred miles of the sea spread like wildfire.

While resting at a roadside tea stall in a remote village, they overheard mortals discussing the Sea of Falling Waters.

“You know, the Sea of Falling Waters has been a terrifying place for cultivators for centuries.”

“They call it the ‘Abandoned Mortal Realm,’ don’t they? Only ordinary people like us can enter the water.”

“I’m definitely going this time. I’m a good swimmer. If I can fish a few cultivators out of the water, even the scraps they drop would be enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life.”

“Didn’t you hear? This time, even cultivators can enter. What’s the point of you going?”

“You guys don’t get it. I don’t believe that the Sea of Falling Waters, which has swallowed cultivators for thousands of years, can suddenly be safe.”

Mu Jingzhuo glanced at the three chatting mortals and whispered to Jian Yuanbai, “Even in a place like this, people are talking about the Sea of Falling Waters. It seems like even without the Mercenary Guild, we would’ve heard about it soon enough.”

Jian Yuanbai frowned. “The news is spreading too fast. There will be no shortage of people flocking to the Sea of Falling Waters.”

Mu Jingzhuo said, “I heard that a silver sun rose from the sea a few days ago, illuminating the Sea of Falling Waters within a hundred miles. Do you think we’ll be too late by the time we arrive?”

Jian Yuanbai shook his head. “Unlikely. The rumors say that only when the silver sun rises over the sea can cultivators safely enter the Sea of Falling Waters. Now, we just need to arrive before the second silver sun appears.”

After a brief rest, they resumed their journey.

Since they didn’t know when the next silver sun would rise, they hurried along the way. Mu Jingzhuo had left his Cloud-Stepping Foal back on the mountain, so they traveled on flying boats and constantly switched vessels to speed up their journey.

When they finally arrived at a city near the Sea of Falling Waters, they found that the number of cultivators far exceeded their expectations.

The small city, called Fisherman’s City, was packed with cultivators from all over the empire. The streets were bustling, and the city was more crowded with cultivators than the ordinary residents who relied on fishing for a living.

The rumors about the Sea of Falling Waters had transformed into tales of countless treasures and rare spiritual beasts beneath the waves.

Jian Yuanbai and Mu Jingzhuo sat in a tavern, eating while listening to the conversations around them. There was no need to inquire actively—just by sitting in a crowded place, they could hear everything clearly.

In the center of the tavern, a storyteller passionately described how, during the previous silver sun’s rise, a cultivator named Liu Feng from the Liu Bi Sect accidentally fell into the Sea of Falling Waters and emerged with a high-grade cultivation technique and a powerful beast core.

With a dramatic snap of his fan, the storyteller said, “Do you know what realm Liu Feng was in before he entered the Sea of Falling Waters?”

“What realm?”

“Tell us already!”

“Stop keeping us in suspense!”

The storyteller grinned and revealed, “He was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. But after just one day in the Sea of Falling Waters, he emerged at the Golden Core stage!”

The storyteller’s vivid storytelling and the allure of obtaining heavenly treasures had the cultivators in the tavern burning with excitement. Each of them imagined themselves as the next lucky one to step into the Sea of Falling Waters and ascend to greatness.

Mu Jingzhuo couldn’t help but frown. “This is getting out of hand. The entire Asriga Empire is abuzz with rumors. Something feels off.”

When something spreads this quickly and fervently, it often means…

“Someone is pushing this from behind the scenes,” Jian Yuanbai said, echoing Mu Jingzhuo’s thoughts.

They exchanged glances and saw the same suspicion in each other’s eyes.

Jian Yuanbai thought even deeper. If someone was manipulating the situation from behind, was the Asriga Imperial Court aware of this? Or worse… was the mastermind behind it the Imperial Court itself?

Jian Yuanbai said, “Tonight, let’s head to the shore and check out the situation.”

Mu Jingzhuo nodded, “Alright.”

When night fell, Jian Yuanbai led his people to the Sea of Falling Waters. Before them was a vast, endless sea, shimmering with rippling waves under the silver moonlight.

Looking up, he felt the sea had no end. Who would have thought that beyond the sea lay an even vaster world?

Jian Yuanbai recalled what mortals said. They called this sea, where cultivators could not set foot, the “Abandoned Mortal Realm.”

But in truth, the entire Asriga Empire should be the abandoned land. The people here were the ones left behind by those on the other side of the sea.

The sea became a prison, trapping everyone here for life. Those living on this land were like exiles.

The Sea of Falling Waters looked perfectly normal, so calm that there wasn’t even the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy. This made Mu Jingzhuo a little puzzled. “Is there really a silver sun that rises from this sea?”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “It should be true. Even if someone is stirring things up behind the scenes, there must be three parts truth and seven parts lie to make the story sound real.”

“Cultivators aren’t fools. Such things need solid proof to attract them. I saw it with my own eyes on the street today—several sects have already arrived. The one that convinced them the most was that Golden Core stage disciple, Liu Feng.”

“Besides, the last time the silver sun rose, the time was calculated. From the moment it rises to when it completely sets, it lasts for three days. Some cultivators who were nearby must have already tried entering during those three days.”

“It is said that on the second day of the silver sun’s rise, a brave cultivator brought a mortal skilled in swimming into the sea. That’s how they discovered that the Sea of Falling Waters could be entered. When he came out, he brought back a high-grade cultivation technique.”

Mu Jingzhuo had heard the rumors and nodded. “And the cultivators who followed that man into the sea also found quite a few treasures.”

Jian Yuanbai chuckled softly and glanced around the empty sea. “Do you know how many people are hiding around here right now?”

Mu Jingzhuo blinked. On this shore, he could only see himself and the man in front of him. But since Jian Yuanbai said so, there must be more.

“How many?”

Jian Yuanbai replied, “No less than a hundred, all hiding nearby and observing the situation.”

Mu Jingzhuo was startled. “Then are we really just going to watch like this?”

Jian Yuanbai gazed at the endless sea and said casually, “We’re just here for a look. Why hide?”

“Let’s go. No need to stand here foolishly.”

Under the night sky and along the endless coastline, Jian Yuanbai led Mu Jingzhuo back to the inn where they were staying. The soft sand left behind a long trail of their footprints.

Back in the guest room, Mu Jingzhuo didn’t sleep but closed his eyes to cultivate. He had a feeling that something big was about to happen with the Sea of Falling Waters, so he cherished every moment for cultivation.

Jian Yuanbai sat by his side and guarded him through the night.

At dawn, a blinding light suddenly illuminated the gray sky. It wasn’t like the usual sunrise that gradually brightened the sky. Instead, it was as if someone suddenly tore open the gray curtain, and everything was bathed in white light.

The entire Fisherman’s City stirred in excitement.

Before Jian Yuanbai could call out, Mu Jingzhuo opened his eyes. “Is it the silver sun?”

“It should be,” Jian Yuanbai nodded. “Let’s go and see.”

As the two of them rushed toward the Sea of Falling Waters, another person was approaching rapidly. It was Zhao Ziji, who had fought Mu Jingzhuo during the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony.

The phoenix within Zhao Ziji’s body spoke calmly despite its anxiety, “When you reach the shore, don’t rush in. Observe the situation first.”

Zhao Ziji asked, “Do you know something? Is there really a heavenly treasure beneath the Sea of Falling Waters,?”

The phoenix replied, “I don’t know much, only that there is indeed something beneath the sea. Whether it’s a heavenly treasure, that’s uncertain.”

Its words contained seventy percent truth and thirty percent lie, so it wasn’t considered a lie. This way, Zhao Ziji would believe it more easily.

The phoenix never expected that someone would actually dare to do this. If it could seize this opportunity…

A spark of hope ignited in its heart. Perhaps it wouldn’t need to possess this useless body anymore to regain its true form.

The cultivators who had rushed to the shore were stunned by the scene before them.

On the endless sea, a silver sun was slowly rising from the water. Its blinding silver light illuminated dozens of meters beneath the sea’s surface.

In the east, the golden sun was also rising. On the sea, the silver sun slowly ascended.

One gold, one silver—two suns rose higher and higher, their light reflecting off each other, illuminating the entire Fisherman’s City.

Mu Jingzhuo stared at the scene in shock and murmured, “There really is a silver sun… What exactly is that thing?”

As the silver sun rose higher, a cultivator couldn’t resist and dove into the water.

Under the piercing silver light, everyone could clearly see the underwater situation. The cultivator showed no signs of struggle and steadily sank deeper.

Just as the rumors said, when the silver sun rises, the Sea of Falling Waters becomes accessible.

With someone leading the way, countless cultivators soon followed, diving into the endless Sea of Falling Waters.

Everyone knew the danger, but as cultivators, they constantly faced life-or-death situations. With those who had already brought back high-grade techniques as proof, countless cultivators plunged into the sea one after another.

Everyone wanted to be the one to bring back a heavenly treasure.

Everyone wanted to be like Liu Feng oftthe Liubiubi Sect, who advanced from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core in a single day.

They all remembered: the silver sun would only stay for three days. Within those three days, they had to come back out.

Mu Jingzhuo watched the cultivators jump into the sea like dumplings and asked Jian Yuanbai, “Should we go in?”

Jian Yuanbai shook his head. “Wait a bit longer.”

He looked up at the silver sun hanging high in the sky and squinted. “This silver sun… is not real.”

Mu Jingzhuo noticed the familiar sects that had come. “I see many sects from the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony. It feels like everyone’s here.”

“It seems the rumor about Liu Yun from the Liubi Sect advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core in one day is true.”

He turned his head and saw the people from the Wenxian Sect approaching.

Jian Yuanbai’s expression changed when he caught sight of a familiar figure. He immediately grabbed Mu Jingzhuo and jumped into the sea. “Let’s go!”

In the past, cultivators couldn’t freely use their spiritual energy or breathe underwater in the Sea of Falling Waters. But now, they could feel the spiritual energy surging around them.

Mu Jingzhuo was startled by the sudden action but quickly calmed down. He pointed downward.

The two of them dove deeper. The surroundings grew darker until they neared the seabed, where a massive ancient black gate appeared before them.

Countless cultivators had already gathered in front of the gate.

The gate stood several meters tall, pitch black, and covered in intricate patterns. It connected to the seabed mountain, making it impossible to see what lay beyond.

As soon as Jian Yuanbai saw the gate, his expression changed, and he immediately pulled Mu Jingzhuo upward.

Mu Jingzhuo was confused, but before he could ask, the seawater suddenly began to swirl violently, forming a massive underwater vortex.

His spiritual energy became sluggish and difficult to control. The cultivators closest to the gate were the first to be sucked in.

The vortex spun like a sharp blade, shredding the cultivators into pieces before they could even scream.

The deep blue vortex turned blood-red as the bodies of countless cultivators were torn apart.

Those who tried to escape were like stones sinking into the sea, unable to move.

In just a few breaths, the bloody vortex had harvested countless lives.

Jian Yuanbai burst out of the water with Mu Jingzhuo. Behind them, blood gushed out, staining the sea red.

“That gate… requires a blood sacrifice to open.”

Looking at Mu Jingzhuo’s horrified expression, Jian Yuanbai explained with a heavy voice.

Mu Jingzhuo blurted out, “So the rumors about heavenly treasures… were just bait to lure people in?”